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Coach Education Series Copyright ITF 2009

PHASES AND CHARACTERISTICS OF A

PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAINING PROGRAMME

ITF Coaches Education Programme

Coaching High Performance Players Course

By Miguel Crespo & Machar Reid


In this session we will

Explain the fundamental characteristics of the different phases of a mental skills training programme

Understand the importance of a player profile for an efficient mental skills training programme


Phase 1Psychological Assessment and Goal

Setting

Phase 2Psychological Skills training

Phase 3Pre-competition

Phase 4Competition

Phase 5Post-competition

PSYC

HO

LOG

ICA

L TR

AI N

ING

(Balaguer, 1994)


General Assessment of the game and the player (s)- Questionnaires - Interviews - Direct observation on court

Specific mental skills assessment: PERFORMANCE PROFILE- Questionnaires/Interviews - Direct behavioral observation (practice / matches) on court- Video recording of practice and matches

Goal-setting- Long, medium and short term goals

AIM- To train psychologically

Phase 1. Psychological Assessment and Goal Setting

(Balaguer, 1994)


Phase1Psychological Assessment and Goal Setting

1 Sport vitae and current tennis player status2 Psychological skills questionnaires3 Behavioural observation: Training and competition4 Research on other players5 Assess Player Commitment

PlayerTennis

1 Observation: Training and competition.2 Match statistics3 Players opinions4 Research

General Assessment of the game and the player (s)- Questionnaires, Interviews and direct observation on court

(Balaguer, 1994)


Mental TrainingAnalysis of the game

Tennis is a mental game Competitive tennis is 95% mental

(Jimmy Connors) Top performance: mentally strong Mental characteristics of tennis are the

following:


Tennis PsychologyPsychological skills needed for

tennis Loehr (1989)

Self-confidence Arousal control Attention control Visualization and

Imagery control Motivation level Positive energy

control Attitude control

Weinberg (2002) Commitment Motivation (Goal

setting) Confidence Understanding and

managing emotions Imagery Concentration Self-talk


Tennis PsychologyMental Factors

Commitment; Intellectual; Confidence; Fighting spirit; Emotional stability; Leadership.


Characteristics of Mental Toughness(necessary for optimal

performance) Fun Being determined Positive attitude and

thinking Being motivated Good concentration Calm Ability to adapt to

situations Relaxed

No fear High energy Automatic reactions and

attitudes Self-confidence Right attribution

(internal/external) Self-control Self-knowledge Stress control under

pressure (Van Aken, 2000)


What does it mean being mentally Tough? (Top Players views)

Having an unshakable belief in your ability to achieve your goals Bouncing back form performance setbacks as a result of

increased determination Having an unshakable self-belief that you possess unique

qualities and abilities that make you better than your opponent Remaining fully focused on the task at hand in the face of

competition-specific distractions Having a strong desire and internalised motives to succeed Regaining psychological control following unexpected,

uncontrollable events

(Jones et al., 2002)


Tennis PsychologyTennis is a Sport of Challenges

1. Game Challenge: The challenge set by tennis on any given day a. The challenge set by the scoring system b. The battle against the opponent

2. The self challenge: The battle with yourself

(Dent, 2002)


Sport vita and current status of the player

Attitudes and beliefs What is the players

commitment? Family dynamic Information about studies,

friends and principal hobbies.

Relationship with coach, other players and other staff members.

Explore possible pressures (parents, grants, etc.).

Etc.

Phase 1: Psychological Assessment and Goal Setting

General Assessment of the player (s)- Questionnaires, Interviews and direct observation on court

(Balaguer, 1994)


Goal: Know where you are. What are your strengths and

weaknesses physically, mentally, technically and tactically?

Are you in the best shape? Are you eating nutritional foods

to ensure good performance? What do you need to do to be

able to play your best? How committed are you to your

tennis?

What has helped you play your best in the past?

What has caused you not to play your best?

What is holding you back right now?

What technical aspects do you need to work on in your game?

Do you have any beliefs that might be hindering you any doubts about your ability?

Sport vita and current status of the player

(Quinn, 2003)


Factors that increase player commitment

History of making promises a reality Recent peak performance experiences Mastering difficult skills Being around others who make commitments

to change Making a commitment leads to immediate

benefits Actual change not required until the future

(Weinberg, 2002)


Excuses to avoid commitment

I am too tired I have more important things to do I am too busy Ill do it tomorrow I dont feel like playing I need to just recuperate I am not motivated I just want to take the day off

(Weinberg, 2002)


Specific Tennis Psychological Skills Assessment : Performance Profiling - Questionnaires

Psychological skillsSelf-confidenceArousal controlAttention control

MotivationVisualisation and Imagery control

Behaviour control


(Balaguer, 1994)


Player Performance ProfilingQuestionnaires

SELF-CONFIDENCE: Sport Confidence State (SSCI) and Trait (TSCI) (Vealey, 1988)

SELF-EFFICACY: Self-efficacy (Bandura)

MOTIVATION (GOAL SETTING/ GOAL PERSPECTIVE) AND MOTIVATIONAL CLIMATE: TEOSQ (Duda, 1989; PMCSQ-2 (Walling & Duda, 1993).

ANXIETY: CSAI-2 (Martens, Vealey, & Burton, 1990) STAI (Spielberger)

ATENTION: Test of Attentional and Interpersonal Style (TAIS, Nideffer, 1976). Tennis test of Attentional and Interpersonal Style (Van Schoyck &

Grasha, 1981) Etc.


Specific Tennis Psychological Skills Assessment : Performance Profiling- Interviews


Identify mental characteristics of top tennis players

Identify/Rate (1-10) your mental characteristics

Compare both lists

(Balaguer, 1994)


Performance Profiling InterviewComparison to the role model

Identifying the mental qualities of their preferred tennis player

Give an example of a mentally tough player How can you see this toughness? Rate your mentality (and what do think would be the

rating by your parents/coach?) Why is the rating not higher/lower?


Select a player whom they consider to score highly on all three.

Select a player who may be strong on two areas but weak in another.

Pick a number of top tennis players and ask the players to give each of them a score out of 10 for each of the following:

Physical Mental Skills

Performance Profiling InterviewWhat it takes to be a complete player

Aim:Help the players to realise what

it takes to be a complete player


Performance Profiling InterviewThe ideal tennis player

Take 5 minutes to DREAM about the tennis player you would like to be.

Write the skills you would like to have in each area: Physical (for example, strong) Psychological (for example, confident) Technical (for example, big serve)


Fundamental Issues

Why do you play the game? Outcomes do not determine the quality of the

person Players become what they think most about Successful players view a glass as half full

rather than half empty Rome was not buit in a day, simply one day

at a time

USTA (1994)


Fundamentals of the Mental Game

The toughest part of the achievement is getting started

Have your players plan their mental peaks No excuses The score reflects how close the match was Success can be habit performing The difference between obstacles and

opportunities is how players view them

USTA (1994)


Performance Profiling InterviewMental toughness checklist

HOW GOOD AM I AT?

Motivate myself (1 10): ______Prepare for a match (1 10): ______Focus during the match (1 10): ______Eyes controlled (1 10): ______Shoulders back, head up (1 10): ______High energy walk (1 10): ______Be in control when playing (1 10): ______


Name ofTennis Player

Technical/Tactical skills

Physical skills

What do I need?

Psychological skills

Other skills

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


Basic Mental Performance ProfileCONTROL

OF THOUGHTS

EMOTIONAL CONTROL

CONCENTRATION

MOTIVATION

CONTROLOF

BEHAVIOURS

4

4 4

4

4

6

66

66

8

8

8

8

8

10

10

10

10

10

22

22

2


Specific Mental Performance Profile

6

8

10

Concentration

Having Fun

DisciplinedLeadership

RelaxedPersistent

CommunicationConfident

Determined100% Effort

Visualisation

Mental Preparation

(Weinberg, 2002)

4

2


Psychological Performance Checklist

Specific tennis skills assessment- Direct behavioral observation (practice / matches)

Before the match During the match After the match

(Balaguer, 1994)


Videotapes

Videotape of important matches

Videotapes of training sessions

Specific tennis skills assessment- Video recording of practice and matches

(Balaguer, 1994)


Specific tennis skills assessment


General AssessmentPsychological

PROFILEof the player

(Balaguer, 1994)


On court session

Analysis of players

Checklist

Psychological PROFILE of the player


Specific tennis skills assessment

Goal-setting- Long, medium and short term goals

AIM- To train psychologically


General AssessmentPsychological

PROFILEof the player

(Balaguer, 1994)


Player Profile: ConclusionDo your players?

Veg

Surrender

Make Excuses

Prepare

Compete

Learn

(Dent, 2002)


Psychological differencesMale-Female

Females in general: Do not like to compete as much as males

do In competition, their warm ups are very

long, since they do not want to start playing They are very good at training They seem less ready for the defeat


Psychological differencesMale-Female

Females in general: They pressure themselves too much They leave tennis at 14, before males who leave

at 18 They do not accept criticism as much as their

males counterparts do It is crucial to have a coach who understands

working with female players

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Documents

game tennis

mental game competitive

mental traininganalysis

tennis loehr

player profile

mental jimmy connors

player s questionnaires

goal settingphase